Investor Relations

A novel way of raising capital and enhancing customer loyalty is being offered in the UK in the form of mini-bonds, but some argue they offer little return for their considerable risk

Forging a strong sense of loyalty between a brand and its customers is something all businesses desperately want but few actually achieve. Making a customer not just return, but also promote a brand out of simple goodwill, is the dream of all marketing ma...

The capital market has never before seen the variety of products that are available today, and demands on these investments vary; as do their reputations. Containers have been an attractive alternative for 30 years

The traditional savings book is ridiculed for its low interest rate in good times, and lauded as the only safe way of keeping hold of your money in bad times. And the savings book has lost some of its solidity as financial holes in state coffers persist. ...

The policy of complete pay transparency is a huge departure from accepted motivational structure, but some companies are starting to consider what the benefits of opening up incentive schemes might be

While the concept of transparency has entered the management mindset in recent times, the idea of full pay disclosure has been largely sidestepped at corporate level, where managers have generally been backed up by academia and psychological research in t...

One of the world’s most notorious activist investors, Carl Icahn, has been stirring up trouble among some of Silicon Valley’s biggest companies in recent years

Shareholders telling management how to run their companies has always been a contentious issue, with battle lines often drawn between those who think firms should be run for their own success and those that say the ultimate beneficiaries of a business sho...

A sharpened focus on corporate social responsibility has given rise to a legal framework by which non-financial performance can be measured

“Today is an historic day,” reads the opening line of a public letter penned by B Lab to celebrate Delaware’s decision last year to enact benefit corporation status. “Until recently, corporate law has not recognised the legitimacy of any corporate...

Tony Fernandes and his no-frills airline AirAsia have decided to part ways with Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) after a disagreement over the running of their joint venture AirAsia Japan

The recent news that Tony Fernandes has decided to leave the joint venture between AirAsia and ANA – the low-cost airline AirAsia Japan – has given rise to widespread discussions over what will now happen to the company.
The termination will effect...

Sony’s biggest investor is trying to shake things up by encouraging a public selloff of the company’s most valuable asset. Not everyone is thrilled about the idea

Kaz Hirai has long held a reputation as being one of Japan’s calmest CEOs. He’s had no choice. Hirai has spent the better part of five years promising investors of the world’s top electronics conglomerate that things will get better. Thanks to a wea...

This year’s proxy season has seen levels of shareholder activism increase, demonstrating shareholders aren’t always content with increased wealth if it comes with a lack of corporate governance

In line with the growing popularity of shareholder activism, this year’s proxy season has seen investors demand complex reforms and institutional changes to corporate governance. Historically, the practice of proxy voting has been a glorified form of bo...

In a large-scale case of corporate back scratching, some of the world’s biggest private equity investment firms are accused of colluding to keep the cost of takeover deals down, writes Jordan Bintcliffe

“Henry Kravis just called to say congratulations and that they were standing down”, wrote Hamilton James, President of Blackstone – a rival private equity company to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). “[Kravis] had told me before they would not jump a...

The Czech Republic is experiencing high levels of market saturation in its telecommunications industry. T-Mobile is working to maintain its position as a leader in that market

According to many, the old world ended on December 21, 2012 and we have entered a new, more spiritual era. Frankly, I’m not sure about that, but what I know for sure is that we have entered a new business era. And, on a personal note, this is the first ...

As businesses recover from the global meltdown, treasury management is becoming essential. World Finance presents its 2012 Treasury Management Awards to companies which show promise for the future

Treasury management has long been an important aspect of many corporations’ financial management. It ensures the business is accurately tracking its daily sales and payments in an effective manner, while also having sufficient liquidity to meet both exp...

Despite Brazilian equities receiving lacklustre interest from investors, one firm is outperforming the market. Partners Hugh Anthony Harley and Alexandre Sabanai told World Finance how Perfin Investimentos has done it

Despite being one of the economies tipped to dominate in the next few years, Brazil has experienced a relatively difficult period in its equity markets. In recent years, the Brazilian economy has seen money pour in off the back of enthusiasm for the count...

With more attention than ever on credit ratings, Blaise Ganguin, EMEA Head of Corporate & Infrastructure Ratings, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, asks whether they actually do the job they are designed for

The track record of our corporate ratings as indicators of default risk is very strong and has remained so during the financial crisis. But before examining this track record in detail, it is important to state what a credit rating actually is, and just a...

A plan that would have seen the chief executive of Citigroup, Vikram Pandit, receive tens of millions of dollars has been criticised by the company's shareholders.
About 55 percent of the shareholders either refrained from voting or voted against the p...

The decade-old act that continues to keep a watchful eye. But is it enough?

The importance of secure internal financial control systems have long been realised by the business community. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 2002, named after Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Michael Oxley, has, however, shifted the responsibility for t...

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Singapore

10 years ago Singapore ranked 18th, however, a strong currency, sky-high utility bills and lofty car ownership fees have together bumped up the city’s prices by quite extraordinary degrees. Singapore also plays host to one of the widest wealth gaps in the world as well as an average annual per capita income of some $50,000.

Paris

The city’s 20 percent sales tax and notoriously expensive goods and services mean that the French capital is still one of the most financially demanding places to live in the world. To compound the cost of living further still, the average price of a centrally located apartment comes to over $13,600 per sq m.

Oslo

Oslo has ranked amongst the most expensive cities worldwide for some time now. Although the Norwegian capital’s house prices fall short of its major rivals, the price of common goods is above and beyond most – the city’s university recommends that students keep a minimum of NOK10,000 ($1674) to cover basic expenses.

Zurich

Although taxes are famously low, the price of insurance, services and common goods is significantly higher than most of its European counterparts. Due to excessive property prices the vast majority of the city’s inhabitants choose to rent accommodation, and the average individual spends near 16 percent of their salary on housing and energy combined.

Sydney

Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia, and indeed one of the most expensive worldwide in terms of property prices – the average house here will set you back a cool $700,000. In addition to stratospheric house prices, the currency’s gain ahead of the dollar has proceeded to push up the price of goods and services further still.